Real Estate Underwriter Olean, NY

Community Financial System, Inc.; City of Olean (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI) seeks an experienced Real Estate Underwriter to evaluate residential mortgage and home equity loan applications in Upstate New York.

You will assess borrower income, assets, and collateral while adhering to TILA-RESPA, ATR/QM, HMDA, and internal lending guidelines. Responsibilities include reviewing packages, approving within delegated limits, preparing concise loan summaries, evaluating appraisals and title reports, and guiding Mortgage Coordinators to

Qualifications

• Education: Associate degree or equivalent experience in mortgage processing or related field.
• Experience: Minimum five years in mortgage underwriting preferred.
• Regulatory: Knowledge of real estate lending rules (TILA-RESPA, ATR/QM, HMDA).

Responsibilities

• Evaluate residential mortgage and home equity loan applications.
• Analyze income, assets, credit, and collateral to assess borrower eligibility.
• Make credit decisions within delegated limits and document loan actions.
• Review appraisals and title reports for accuracy and investor requirements.
• Prepare loan summaries and communicate decisions to loan officers.

Skills

Analytical skills

Written and verbal communication

Problem solving

Confidentiality

Education

Associate degree or equivalent real estate/mortgage experience

Job description

Overview

At Community Financial System, Inc. (CFSI), we are dedicated to providing our customers with friendly, personalized, high-quality financial services and products. Our retail division, Community Bank, N.A., operates more than 200 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont and Western Massachusetts. Beyond retail banking, we also offer commercial banking, wealth management, investment management, insurance and risk management, and benefit plan administration.Just as our employees are committed to helping our customers manage their finances, we're committed to our employees. After all, they make it happen for our customers every day.To ensure our people can enjoy long and successful careers here at CFSI, we offer competitive compensation, great benefits, and professional development and advancement opportunities. As an equal-opportunity workplace and affirmative-action employer, we celebrate and support a diverse workplace for the benefit of all: our employees, customers and communities.

Responsibilities

The Real Estate Underwriter is responsible for evaluating, approving, or declining residential mortgage and home equity loan applications through comprehensive financial risk assessment and adherence to established lending guidelines. This role ensures sound lending decisions while mitigating risk to the Company, government agencies, and secondary market investors. The Underwriter must maintain current knowledge of all applicable regulatory requirements, including TILA-RESPA, ATR/QM, and HMDA.

• Analyze application packages and supporting documentation (financial statements, credit reports, employment history, etc.) to assess borrower eligibility across all product types including USDA, secondary market loans, PMI, construction loans, Homebuyer Dream Program, and VA
• Exercise lending authority to make credit decisions within delegated approval limits
• Document underwriting decision and prepare clear, concise loan summaries
• Responsible to review and evaluate residential appraisals to ensure collateral meets program and investor requirements
• Review title reports for accuracy and completeness
• Provide guidance to Mortgage Coordinators regarding required actions on incomplete or complex loan applications
• Prepare approved loan for progression to closing
• Communicate decisions and conditions effectively to loan officers and relevant stakeholders
• Actively participate in the development and documentation of workflow processes as well as contribute to the process improvement and operational efficiency initiatives
• Must maintain and stay informed of policies, procedures, and regulatory updates and changes impacting the real estate lending function
• Perform other related duties as assigned
• Maintain proficient knowledge of, and demonstrate ongoing compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to this position, ensure ongoing adherence to policies, procedures, and internal controls, and meet all training requirements in a timely mannerAdditional Expectations
• Maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality
• Support and contribute to a collaborative team environmentAncillary Duties:
• As requested by manager or necessary to obtain necessary business goals and objectives

Qualifications

Education/Training/Requirements:

• Associate degree required; may consider equivalent experience in mortgage processing, legal real estate closings, or related field
• Minimum five (5) years of experience highly preferred
• All applicants must be 18 years of age or olderSkills:
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate income, assets, and creditworthiness
• Proficient in reading, writing, grammar, and mathematical calculations
• Effective problem solving and research capabilities
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to work efficien